Automatic valve



Jan. 13, 1931. A, RECKER ,789,156

AUTOMATIC VALVE Filed June 28, 1929 ADOLIH C. RECKER, OF OAKVILLE, CONNE INCORPORATED, OF WATERBURY,

Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION AUTOMATIC VALVE Application led June 28,

This invention relates to an improved automatic valve for use in connection with steam radiators and of the type designed to automatic-ally permit the expulsion of air from the radiator and prevent the egress of water therefrom.

@ne of the main objects of my invention is to provide a superiorly-sensitive automatic valve of the type referred to constructed with particular reference to its capacity for withstandinglong service without failure of the parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic valve which will not re quire a delicate setting or adjustment to enable it to function properly and to withstand long service.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in an automatic valve having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims. Y

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an automatic valve constructed in accordance with my invention, the parts beingshown in the positions due them when the float is not subjected to heat; Y

Fig. 2 is a similar View but showing the parts in the positions due them when the iioat has been subjected to heat to outwardly flex its diaphragm; a

Fig. 3 isa top or plan view of the base` member of the casing, together with the iphon-tube and the retaining-means thereor; Y

Fig. 4 is a broken limiting-ring; and f Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the L-shaped VVSiphon-tube retainer.

VIn carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employ a hollow sheet-metal float 10 contracted at its upper end and provided with Y an upstanding valve-plunger 11 Vand having its lower end closed by a cup-shaped flexible diaphragml 12 seated against an annular bead 13 inwardly spun from the Vmetal perspective -view of the 1 of the float 10 near the'lower end thereof.

Seated within the` cup-shaped Vdiaphragm 1929. serian No. 374,321.

12 is a limiting-ring 14 formed witha central clearance-opening 15 and with an outwardly-extending flange or skirt 16 which parallels the ange of the diaphragm 12. The cup-shaped diaphragm 12 and the limit-v ing-ring 14 are retained in place in the slightly-dared lower end 17 of the float 10 by solder 18 which serves to hermetically seal the lower end of the said lioat..

The float 10 above described is charged with a small quantity of highly-volatile fluid such as ether, which readily gasiies and expands under the action of heat, so as to generate sufficient pressure within the iioat to flexthe diaphragm 12 outward for the purpose as will'hereinafter appear.

The diaphragm 12 is tensioned so that it will normally, in the absence of pressure within the iioat Y 10, be flexed inward in the position in which itis shown in Fig. '1, and rests upon the crowned upper face of the head 19 of an adjusting-screw' 20 threaded into the lower end of the base-member 21 of the casing, which latter yalso comprises ya domical sheet-metal shell 22 threaded into the said base as atj23 and provided at its upper end with an axially-arranged valveseatmember 24 externally-threaded and engaging threads upon the inwardly-turned annular flange 25 ofthe said 'shell-member.

The valve-seat member 24 is formed *withV a lrelatively-large vertical passage 26 *inv which the, Yvalve-plunger 11 rides and inter- 'l The base-memberV 21 of the casing is o formed withv an integral radial nipple 32 provided at its outerend with external threads 33 forl connecting the valvestruc` ture to a steam-radiator and formed withV a Vradial 'passage 34 through which steam, airYY ofthe passages 26 and water are admitted to the'interior of the casing.

Extending outward through `the passage 34 of the nipple 32 is the usual Siphon-tube 35 having at its inner end an out-turned flange 36 which is straddled yby the bifurcated verticall arm 37 of an L-shaped retainer 38.

The horizontal arm 39 of the retainer 38 is formed-with a vertical passage'l40 for vthe reception ofthe neck l41 of the-adjustingscrew 2O and is intersected by a radial-pas sage 42 which is slightly smaller in/wi'dth than the diameter of the neck 41 into the vertiealpassage-40, the said adjustingfscrew and retainer will be yieldingly coupled together as a'unit.

'The inner'or upper face of the bottom wall of the base-member21-of the casing is formed with an annular recess 43 havino a shallow notch 44-1eading radially therefrom (Fig. 3) to receive the lower end of the'bifurcated arm 37 of the retainer 38-to prevent the same from movingl .radially outward. The depth of the notch 44 is sufficient to permit the retainer f 38 to `have Vthe necessary i amount `of vertical movement with the adjusting-screw 20 as the latter is moved in or out to adjust the vertical position of the float 10 within the casing.

It has long been recognized that a 'relatively-largefdiameter diaphragm is vmost desirable to insure sensitiveness and long life and to effect a relativelyfgreater'movement of the float. However, I have discovered that one of lthe major reasons for the failure of automatic valves of the type to which my invention relates is-due to the fact kthat the diaphragm-especially if `of ya large diameterbecomes strained when 4the volatile fluid within the float'becomesexpanded by heat so as to flex the diaphragm outward.

By providing the limiting-ring 14'I am enabled to yemploy a relatively-'large-diametei` diaphragm 12, with the many resultant advantages and still prevent the same yfrom becoming strained soas to failto function properly.

By providing a bottom adjusting-screw 2O which it is intended shall-'be `soldered in place after adjustment, I am enabledvto. assemble the valve completely after the exterior of the casing .has been plated. After testing the mechanism yand" appropriately setting the adjusting-screw 20, I apply solder thereto to lock it in place without, however, marring the ordinarily visible portions ofthe casing.

I claim:

1. An automatic valve of the class described, comprising a casing; a hollow float movable in said casing and charged with a heat-expansible fluid; a flexible-diaphragm carried by the: said floatfand'exposed to the scribed, comprising a casing; so that .when the latter is passed therethrough and entered Aleast one'fifth the total distaneebetween the v said points.

2,. An automatic valve of the class dea hollow oat movable .in said casing and charged with a heat-expans'ible'fluid; a flexible diaphragm carried by the said :float andexposed to the pressure *developed therein; a -vent-valve adapted to :be closed 'bythe .normal outward flexure of the said diaphragm; .and a `limiting-ring havinga central perforation and coupled to the said iioat in position to limit the outward flexing iof' .the 'said` :diaphragm and extending inward fromthe flexure-point of the said diaphragm towardv the center thereof, a distance of at Aleastone-.fifth thetotal distance between the said points.

3. An automatic valve of the class described, comprising acasing; .a hollow lfloat movable insaid casing and charged with a heat-exp ansible fluid; a cup-shaped vflexible diaphragm carried bythe saidfloat and exposed to the pressure vdeveloped therein; a vent-valve adapted to be closed' -by fthe outward -fl-exure ofthe said diaphragm; and a cup-shaped limiting-ring having a central perforation and fitting within the said cupshaped diaphragm-infpositionftolimit the outward flexing thereof.

4. An automatic -valve of.: the class :de` scribed, comprising a casing;.a -hollow io'at movable in Ysaid casingand charged `'with -a heat-expansible fluid; a flexible diaphragm forming the bottom wall of .the said float; a vent-valve adapted to be closed by the outward flexure of thewsaid diaphragm an adjusting-screw projecting -throughthe bottom of the said-casing and formedatits inner'end with a head engaging the underrfaceof' the saiddiaphragm a Siphon-tube extending laterallyoutwardthrough the said casing; and an 'L-shaped retainer-located 'within the said casing and having one of its arms engaging' the said: siphonetube and the other armengaging the said adjusting-screw'beneath the head thereof; Y l

5. An automatic valveof the class-described, comprisinga casing;-a hollow float movable in said casing and charged with a heat-expansible` fluid; a flexible diaphragm forming the bottom wall of the said float; a ventfvalfve adapted to beclosed by the outward :flexure'of thesaid diaphragm; an adjusting-screivir projecting through the-bottom of the said-casing and formed atitsinner end with: ahead engaging' the -underfaceof fthe said diaphragm; a Siphon-tube extending 1at erally outward through the said casing; an L-shaped retainer located Within the said casing and having one of its arms engaging the said Siphon-tube and the other arm engaging the said adjusting-screw beneath the head thereof; and an abutment in casing positioned to prevent the outward radial displacement of the said retainer.

6. An automatic valve comprising'a casing; a vent valve; a thermostatic element 1ocated Within the said casing and operating under the iniuence of a rise in temperature to close the said vent Valve; a screw member having a head located Within the said casing; a Siphon-tube extending laterally outward through the said casing; and a retainer having one end engaged with the said Siphontube and the other end engaged With the said screw member beneath the head thereof.

Y '7. An automatic valve comprising a casing; a vent valve; a thermostatic element. located Within the said casing and operating under the influence of a rise in temperature to close the said vent valve; a screw member having a head located Within the said casing; a Siphon-tube extending laterally out- Ward through the said casing; and a retainer having its respective opposite ends bifurcated for respectively embracing the said Siphon-l tnbe and the said screw member beneath the head thereof. t Y

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ADOLPH C. BECKER.

the said 

